Best Bee Brothers Bee Blog

While nature rarely bestows a vengeful disposition on any of its creatures, you might be surprised to find that there are a few natural predators of the carpenter bee, if not exactly outright enemies.  Carpenter Bee Predators  If you thought carpenter bee damage was limited to the proportion of how much chomping they can do boring their tunnels and nests into the wood siding of your home (among other places), think again! Though not necessarily their fault, carpenter bees invite even more structural damage to your home by their mere presence.  Let’s explore why... Carpenter bees attract pesky woodpeckers which...

Despite their imposing size and capacity for swift, repeated stings, hornets and other wasps are not the top predators in their ecosystem. While these winged defenders of the nest are not to be taken lightly, there are myriad insects and animals that will gladly make a meal out of them given the chance. Let’s take a closer look at the hidden helpers keeping your backyard free of hornets and other wasps.  What Eats Hornets and Other Wasps? You might be surprised to find that despite the creatures’ fierce reputation, the list of natural predators for wasps is actually quite long....

The Queen Carpenter Bee: Mating and lifestyle differences between honeybees and carpenter bees. When someone mentions bees, the image of a large honeycomb bee hive with a big queen bee probably comes to mind. It’s no wonder then that honey bees are probably the most talked about and most popular of all the bee species. And for good reason - we love the honey and wax they produce and have been studying their intricate colonies for ages. In recent years, the growing research validating the vast importance of the honey bee in pollinating our crops to make more food has...

What does the word “incense” conjure up in your mind? If you’re imagining meditation retreats or religious ceremonies, you might be missing out on an effective insect repellent. The first incense coil – specifically designed to repel mosquitos – was developed in the early 1900s by two Japanese entrepreneurs, Eiichiro and Yuki Ueyama. While the shape of their product (see below) was different from traditional incense sticks, the overall makeup remained the same. Today’s standard mosquito coil. The active ingredient in the Ueyamas’ invention was pyrethrum paste, a substance derived from chrysanthemum flowers, used as an insecticide for centuries in...

Where Do Carpenter Bees Live in Winter? For those who are afflicted by carpenter bees, they seem to be a constant annoyance all spring and summer. But where do they go during the cold winter months? You may be surprised to learn that carpenter bees hibernate in their nests during the winter. Carpenter Bee Winter Hibernation Habits As spring begins, so does the life cycle of a carpenter bee. Young adult carpenter bees emerge from their hibernation ready to mate, and create a new nest all their own – this is the best time to hang your carpenter bee trap!...